Renewable Energy in an Age of Conservative Politics

Well before the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, the US political landscape was shifting rightward. Since 2008, Democrats have suffered a net loss of 1,042 state and federal posts, including congressional and state legislative seats, governorships, and the presidency. Today, over two-thirds of state legislatures are controlled by Republicans, and in 25 states, Republicans control both legislative chambers and the governorship. Yet, against this conservative backdrop, renewable energy has flourished. What are the political origins of the current renewable energy revolution, and is this growth because of, or despite, Republican-leaning public policies? This course will provide an introductory overview of the fundamentals of policy and the role of politics in shaping the clean energy economy, including technological innovations and market factors that may determine the industry’s continued growth.